A 31-year-old member asked:
How long does nicotine stay in system for diptest?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
2-3 days: For most smokers. After a single exposure to tobacco smoke, cotinine can be detected in blood or urine for less than 24 hours, but in an individual smoking 1/2 pack or more per day, 2-3 days is common. It is rarely positive after 5 days. Hair testing can detect cotinine (main metabolite) for months, depending on length of hair. Nicotine is very short-acting and is only present for hours.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
How long does nicotine stay in your system from the gum?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
Doesn't accumulate: Really doesn't matter that much if you are a heavy or light user. Nicotine is a very short-acting chemical and is only active in bloodstream for a few hours, then is converted to a metabolite cotinine that is metabolically inactive, but is what most drug tests look for. It sticks around in blood for 1-2 days, in urine for 2-4 days, oral swabs can pick it up a little longer, perhaps 3-5 days.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
How long does nicotine stay in your system if you are a heavy smoker?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
Doesn't accumulate: Really doesn't matter that much if you are a heavy or light smoker. Nicotine is a very short-acting chemical and is only active in bloodstream for a few hours, then is converted to a metabolite cotinine that is metabolically inactive, but is what most drug tests look for. It sticks around in blood for 1-2 days, in urine for 2-4 days, oral swabs can pick it up a little longer, perhaps 3-5 days.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 4, 2017
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